Pavel Nedved warned Atletico Madrid start strong and he is “expecting something special” from Paulo Dybala and Juventus tonight.

The first leg in the Round of 16 kicks off at 20.00 GMT.

Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.

The first question was naturally about Sami Khedira, who had surgery for a cardiac irregularity.

Pavel Nedved warned Atletico Madrid start strong and he is “expecting something special” from Paulo Dybala and Juventus tonight.

The first leg in the Round of 16 kicks off at 20.00 GMT.

Click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.

The first question was naturally about Sami Khedira, who had surgery for a cardiac irregularity.

“We wanted to resolve the situation and Sami had a few heart issues, so we can’t joke around with that. It’s disappointing, as he is a player of immense quality and we’ll miss him in games like this,” the Vice-President told Sky Sport Italia.

Miralem Pjanic was also in doubt on the day, as he is struggling with flu symptoms and a slight temperature.

“Pjanic I think can play 90 minutes. It’s a special night, with special players who need a special performance. Nobody wants to miss this.

“We are expecting something special from Dybala, as he is the Number 10 and we always expect more from that number.”

Nedved was asked if he has spoken to his former Lazio teammate Diego Simeone.

“I haven’t met him yet, as Cholo is always hidden away before a match. In fairness, we have very similar personalities and are very competitive, so it’s probably best not to see each other before a big game!

“Atleti start strong, there is no time to take 15-20 minutes to get accustomed to the game, as you can’t get away with that here. The pitch is perfect and looks like the ball will move very quickly, so great technique will be crucial.”

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